CAISTER SOUL WEEKENDER

“Here come the girls”

OK, for those of you that don’t know… Caister Soul Weekender is where a few thousand of us migrate to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk twice a year, every year. Some of us have been doing this for a good many years… me… 32 give or take a few misses (Yes.. I know.. I don’t look old enough!!) cough cough.

It’s the biggest, longest running Soul Weekender that I know of… and it’s become a huge part of my life. I was going to give it a miss this time.. I was meant to be going to a Wedding in Malta in a few weeks but it all went pear shape and now I’m not.

I still said I would give Caister a miss though… obviously having a bad day???.. But as the weekender has drawn nearer and nearer.. I knew I wouldn’t be able to bare to miss out on the fun with the “crazy gang”…

It’s the one time where most of us brunettes & blondes ALL get together… M’Lady.. Anne.. leaves her country Manor for the weekend, Our lovely Sara, The Roman, One Shoe Susan, my gorgeous brunette sister Amanda and even Martine (almost as mad as the Roman) is coming. My lovely Cup Cake Sarah and the GAWJUSS Anthony will be there (yes.. he’s classed as an honourary girly and damn he can dance!!! )… it’s great … there are so many lovely lovely people that we see year after year… some call us “The Family”.

One absence this year will be my beautiful wonderful Dolly… he’s my roomy.. he’s my diamond.. from the minute we get together, we laugh.. he takes photo’s of everyone and everything… no matter what time of day or night it is.. and what STATE your appearance is at… I love him madly and will miss him crazy.. he’s my sunshine friend.. but this year he has much more important things to do.. he’s involved hugely in Charity projects.. and this is another reason why I love him.. he give so much… nevertheless… I will feel his absence as I’m sure many others will too… all us girls for sure.

The Weekends Preparations seem to be in full swing…. For every one else… for me… well.. this year, I’m trying different tactics…

Normally I pack 3/4/5 days in advance… but it has been impossible for me to do that.. I’ve been on the go non stop.. NOT that I’m complaining. But one of the disadvantages with packing that early (for me) is… it gives me time to think and rethink about what I’m taking, what I do and don’t need… the case gets packed, emptied, packed again and emptied again!!!

“Shall I take these shoes or those shoes.. hell.. lets take both pairs… hmm.. gona need some boots… and flats.. will need my flats.. now … underwear… “… the list is ongoing… don’t even get me started on the Make-UP!!

By the time I go… I may as well be having a two week holiday the other side of the world! An outfit for every occasion … yes.. even a wedding.. I got married at Caister one year (it was annulled within 24 hours – sorry Foz!! LOL)… Us girls need to be ready for every eventuality!!! This year I’m doing it differently… 8 thongs, 3 bra’s, one pair of shorts, one pair of jeans, a pair of leggings, one denim skirt.. a few vests … one LBD and my fancy dress outfit… trainers, one pair of heels and one pair of pumps.. THAT’S IT… oh…. Um … hmmmm .. should I take my boots… ?? what if it gets really hot… bikini… or cold… Jumper… oh gawd… here we go… decisions decisions!!!

M’Lady has cut down on her luggage apparently this year – so she tells me…. She’s gone from 20 pairs of shoes to only 10…. Cant begin to imagine how many items of clothing she’ll be taking with her – she’s been shopping since February for this…. Let’s hope she get’s to wear them this time… Her and Sara were very poorly one Caister not so long ago, such a shame.… “achohol induced?” I hear you ask… NO… never.. Not Anne and Sara… never.. it’s all lies the rumours about this lethal punch or the cocktails that they make… rubbish… it’s fruit juice with a little alcohol flavouring… you know… the kind you get in rum truffles.. that kinda thing… They give it to people like a placebo … fools them into thinking they’re on the hard stuff!!! Hahahaha… yea right!!!

OK let’s tell you a little about the girls…

Anne is our sensible mother type figure… well… sensible may not be the word actually – she does have her “nutty moments” .. get your camera’s ready after the BBQ on the Sunday, M’Lady has a habit of shocking us all … I shall divulge no more… WHAT HAPPENS AT CAISTER STAYS AT CAISTER… (well only if the battery has gone flat on my camera!!!).

Sara is lovely, so inoffensive and lovely… until the alcohol kicks in and she starts doing her impression of Jennifer Hudson in the Caravan… I swear down.. you would never know it wasn’t the lady herself… but no.. it’s better.. it’s our Sara!!! Fantastic voice (just don’t let the soulprana join in – she knows who she is!!!)

The Roman and Martine… I don’t even want to begin to tell you what they might or might not be getting up to… Causing trouble somewhere no doubt… Although I will say… Martine is the one that feeds us!! Superb she is and so organised… she’s like a mum… you’ll get a phone call… come on back I’m dishing up… gotta love her!!!

I will say.. The Roman packs the lightest out of all of us… well… she doesn’t believe in underwear apparently (so One Shoe tells me).. so not having three days and nights worth.. would be a big space saving for her!!!

I’m travelling up with The Roman, Two Shoes Susan and Amanda this time… which could be dangerous… The Roman has a habit of force feeding me pink fizz in the back of the car.. and I’m not talking grapefruit fizzy aid… I’m talking Champa’s or Cava… it doesn’t matter with the Roman… if it’s fizzy, alcoholic and preferably pink… she’ll down it and insist on pouring it down my throat. Infact, if it’s alcoholic she’ll down it… best hide my pink nail varnish remover!!!

Now… Amanda and “one shoe”… Amanda I liken to myself… fun and sensible … knows when to have a laugh.. doesn’t EVER get into any trouble.. dances the night away and enjoys herself… well… she’s brunette… (Sara’s much the same.. just miss-led by M’Lady).. but ONE SHOE SUSAN.. she’s a different story completely…. Her name explains all.. Dolly named her that one Caister.. and every year since, we still find her, in the early hours of the morning… legs hanging out of various bushes all over the campsite… she swears she’s still looking for her lost shoe!!!

Whatever happens.. I know that this weekend will be “THE BEST CAISTER EVER”… it always is.. always has been and always will be…. We will dance, laugh, talk a load of ol’ tosh, have heart to hearts, catch up with old Soul friends from years gone by… meet new friends… and dance… and DANCE AND DANCE AND DANCE!!!! Who knows.. I might even venture to the swimming pool this year (it’s a nightmare trying to get a shower while the water’s still hot in our vans!!).

Well, that’s about it for this week’s blog. HERE’S TO A GREAT WEEKEND with my Sisters… I love ‘em all !!!

A VERY PROUD MUM IS ME X

I can’t tell you everything I did last week…

a) there’s too much to remember, b) I wouldn’t want to bore you… well not too much -and
c) some of it is a complete blur now. Let’s just say… it included high’s, lows, smiles, tears, working out hard, sweating buckets and even some prodding and poking here and there… (errr.. you at the back… please.. keep it clean!).

Today I’m gona beam about my number one (and only) 19 year old Son…

He tells me on Tuesday, he has an interview for a Sales job… not sure whether it was 10 or 20 calls I had from him that morning.. “where’s this, where’s that, what tie goes with what shirt..” point proven, he still needs his mum for SOME things!!

Off he went, and yes, I had every faith in him.. that’s MY boy, ‘course he’s gona get the job.. he’s intelligent (more than me I must say), smart, handsome and very ambitious. Every second after 2:30pm seemed to last a minute – waiting in anticipation for his call and trying to concentrate on my own work.

Then it came… bless him, you should’ve heard his voice.. happy as Larry he was/is…

“Guess who got the job?”…. errr.. the geezer in the car behind, lol!!

Off he went shopping, new shoes, new shirts, new socks… Err hum didn’t see no new underpants though.....?

He had an induction to go to the next day and would be starting FOR REAL on Thursday…

I’m SO HAPPY for him, he’s a hard worker, he’s even going to try and to keep his Bar tender job going and certainly doesn’t want to give up his DJ’ing …... he doesn’t stop - EVER… Hmmm wonder where he gets THAT from?

OK… I’m sure all mums say this… but…. If there’s one good/brilliant/fantastic thing I have achieved in this life.. it’s having my boy and bringing up a wonderful young man… he’s my star and every single day makes me proud.. I love him to bits. He has a big heart and a great character… yes his bedroom is the messiest in the world… but he has a cheeky way about him that enables him to get away with murder where I’m concerned…. And if a messy bedroom is the worst I have to contend with… it aint a bad lot!!!

Any ways – I just want you to know….. 6 days later, my boy is loving his new job…. Getting his teeth into it, and going out in the morning looking “proper dapper”….. OH… and he’s also talking about emigrating to Canada/South Africa any where…. and owning his own business within the next 18 months!!! You gotta love his ambition !!!!

(“o)

A night out with the Blondes!

Dancing Debi’s Dotty Diary??…. Someone asked me why that? Why? Because someone else said it sums me up to a T. ‘ said I have a crazy life… rubbish, my life is no different to anyone else’s, I just seem to cram a lot in.. not always a good thing… but very rarely a bad thing!! But hey listen, we’re not here forever and I’m done with waisting my life wishing I’d done this and done that… done too much of that already. I think it also the Dottyness may have something to do with my crazy but lovely mates!!!

Saturday night I ended up going out with the two mad blondes, “One Shoe Susan” and “Missy T”. We went to a boat moored along the Thames. Nice boat!! Music a bit “cheesey” for my liking (but I can be a snob when it comes to my tunes).. and some of the fellow party people didn’t really have party attitudes.. more.. let’s go out and see what drama we can cause and who can give the dirtiest look attitude!! Most of the men in the place were guys that we all know.. most of them regularly leaving their wives and girlfriends at home and go fishing for new totty, stupidly enough, it looked like a lot of the totty there were falling for the charms of these guys… was funny to watch tho… the predator snaring his victim!

The best bits of the evening (for me) were the getting there, walking back to the car and getting home… those two girls crack me up.

The wind was blowing a gust, but all of us known to love the camera, decided to have our photo taken with the lights of the South Bank twinkling behind us (well not quite the South bank but it was South of us).

Hair everywhere and a few too many chocolate voddy thingies… “One Shoe” nearly went for a dip in the lovely brown water!!! Leant on the barrier that was clearly made out of tin and down she started to go!

I was a little worried “Missy” may just give her the final shove but we both went to her rescue… well.. I think she was trying to rescue her. “Missy”?

The next instalment was finding the car!! We’d parked in the right car park, but we had walked too far up… there was a little wall for us to climb over otherwise we would have had to walk all the way back or all the way round.

“Missy T” and I were fine (well… as fine as “Missy” can be), she had jeans on and I had leggings on… but not our “One Shoe”, not only did she have five inch heels on… she also had a short, fitted white dress (and when I say fitted, I’m talking “what she had for dinner” fitted. Beautiful as it was… not really the kinda thing you wana be climbing walls in….

Neeldless to say, by the time we got back into the car, the tears were streaming down our faces and I think one or more of us may have wished we’d tried “Tenar Ladies”!

The girls are hilarious… without them.. my life would be very dull… and despite us all the winding each other up and digging at each other, we love one another dearly, accept each other for who we are, and I know for a fact, that they will be there for me as I will for them in times of need.

ALL of us (yes there are more) are all looking forward to 3/5/2013 (2 weeks and 2 days to go), when we will all be taking our trip usual trip up the A12 to Caister Soul Weekender… 32 years I’ve been going… ish… I was only 1 at my first one!!!

NOW THAT WILL BE ONE DOTTY WEEKEND!!

The week that was!!

Well... after the week I had... I really need this weekend... plans dont always go accordingly... & yes they've changed ... but that's how the cookie crumbles at times!!!

This week has had it's usual ups and downs.. highs and lows... but as usual... we gotta push forwards & onwards!!

The modelling work is getting exciting... have 4 shoots coming up.. quite different to work I've done before... stylish and appropriate for my age :-).

I will say... I was given a rather "iffy" proposition... I feel sorry for the youngsters desperate to get into the game... they might be tempted to take these offers.. the money is amazing.. but for me.. I couldnt do it... one .. i have a son who i respect greatly & would disown me for life... two.. it isnt in my making.... I dont think I need to explain what kind of work it was.

Needless to say... I declined... graciously!!

On a lighter note... I'm in the process of cooking a culinary delight (debateable)... my family have needed me today & I need to be here with them.  Cottage pie, roast pots and veggies... I just hope its edible & doesnt cause any "adverse" side effects... it has been known!!!

Have a good weekend all!!! xx

Stupendously Successful Weekend!

WHO came to SMOOVE GROOVES Saturday night?
If you missed it.. you missed a party to remember!
I popped into Flip n TC's during the day.. The preparations were in full swing for our launch at our new home THE WOOLSTON MANOR!
I swear 700 plus, gorgeous grown n secksy, Soul, RnB, party people turned up.
Despite the freezing temperatures outside.. (& us hinting people to turn up early).. at 10:30pm I couldn't see the end of the queue to get in.

Most people were patient & came through the doors, shivering yet smiling, dying to get up them stairs and on the dance floor!! I think us door peeps (just a small part of the SG's team) done good. 
On our respective mooches round the venue it seemed that everyone was having a ball!! "foot flinging" everywhere we looked... smiling faces... I'm telling ya... THAT'S what a night out is about in my books!!!

I didn't get my normal boogie but hey ho... I'm not paid to dance.. and I DID enjoy myself!!

I've had untold messages since from people saying what a great night it was and asking when the next one is... it's the FIRST SATURDAY IN JUNE!! Caister Soul Weekender next month!!
I'm still buzzing, even though I havent had a chance to sit down yet!! lol

Flip, TC & Bigger done us all proud! & the rest of the Smoove Grooves Team... Donna, Nicki, Rohan, Swify, Scotty & Stuart.. we all worked hard, but worth it!!
Pauline Henry (Chimes) sang like an angel.. the Soul City guys played like deamons in the Small room.. our guys surpassed themselves.. and Jeff Young.. the legend that is.. did NOT let us down!

ROLL ON JUNE I say

Right... enough of me gushing about SG's.. I spose I'm biased.. I'm to munch my weight watchers lasagne & get ready for my work out .... got a shoot coming up this week & we're stepping up the level... i wana be tip top!! Saying that tho... I have a Belisha beacon flashing on my face!!! Most people call them spots but D*MN!!  This one's a hum dinger!!!!

The saying "thank god it's Friday" certainly seems apt for me right now!! what is going on?? has the whole world gone wonky? My week's had highs.. lows.. excitement.. boredom.. drama and fun!! Kinda normal then for me!! i spent Monday recovering over the bank holiday after a great night @We Love Soul.. Hidden.. Vauxhall. The one place I can go to hear a selection of sounds.. many wicked dj's & be surrounded by grown ups that love the vibe. My feet always disown me the following day! Back to work Tuesday & back to the workouts! Gotta get FITTER than fit this year... loads of opportunities coming my way! On Wednesday I was asked by an online magazine to be interviewed.. im taking a stand for us older birds to up our game.. follow our dreams.. ive always been to scared to follow mine. Listened to too much negativity & backed down. Not any more! The modelling work is coming in & getting good feedback. I keep being asked to promote gigs for people.. for pittance or for free.. and I do it. Now I've been approached by someone to up my game.. use my talents and benefit myself.. for once. scarey stuff.. but i'm going for it.. I have to give it a shot. The downer of the week has been the usual hater.. trying to play games.. well.. i aint gona let em get me down... their lives are obviously very boring so they have to make stuff up about over people. Funny thing is.. I'm no one special... just a middle aged woman whos spent the last 20 yrs trying to survive and bring up my son. Maybe .. if they knew anything about me.. they'd think twice!! The fun highlight of my week... might seem small to someone else... is me & my training buddy learning to Hula Hoop!! Hilarious... two grown women remembering how we used to wiggle and spin suddenly revisiting our childhood again!!! I'm writing this with bruised ribs and a stiff back.. glancing at the hoop thinking.. maybe just a little go.. i can keep it going for a WHOLE minute now!! woo hoo! well.. on that note i'm gona quit this.. have a little hula hula for a bit.. then relax in a hot soapy bath. Got a full weekend ahead.. and i cant wait!!!

Thursday... april snow showers

making this very quick... does anyone else not want this snow to stop... its april for gawd sake.... someone sort it!!!!